Renting out (or selling) your property doesn’t automatically mean you need an agent.

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In fact, it's easier than ever to rent out your property without having to pay a commission or go through the hassle of finding someone who can help you out.

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The rental market is certainly hot right now with lots of demand and limited supply so if you’re looking to rent our your property you might be wondering what the best way is to go about it. 

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The first thing you need to do is make sure your listing is ready for prime time - that means photos, a description of what you're selling, and a price. Then, it's time to get out there and start advertising! Check out our top tips for getting started:

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1. Figure out the type of renter you want

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The first thing you should do is figure out who exactly you're trying to attract with your listing. What kind of renters are you looking for? Are they young professionals or retirees? Do they have pets? Do they have children? This will help determine what works best for the needs of the property as well as what price range might be most attractive to potential renters.

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2. Decide on the price

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If you’re renting out your property without an agent, you need to do the research to ensure that your property is priced in line with market conditions and attracts the right kind of tenants. 

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Price tends to be the most influential driver in the level of interest in a property. It makes sense, that when there is a market of different options, users will use price as a way to rank options and make decisions.

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Evaluate your rental property honestly, taking into account the market value of similar properties. Don't try to charge too much rent or you may find yourself without tenants for weeks or months, effectively canceling out the higher price you started with. 

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Use RentBetter’s Rental Estimate Report to get an idea of what other properties in your areas are priced at to make a more informed decision.

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3. Take Photos and List Your Property

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As with any marketing or sales opportunity, there is a benefit to putting your best foot forward and featuring the property in the best way possible. So with this in mind, what important bits should you include in your property ad?

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Headline - A short or catchy title for the property which highlights it’s best features. It might be as simple as "bright north facing apartment with ocean views" or if you’re stuck for creative language it can be as simple as "a house on a corner block near public transport".

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Description - The main facts you want the prospective tenant to know about the property. Don’t go too over the top with details.

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Specifications - State the property type (House, flat, duplex, granny flat etc) How many bedrooms and bathrooms? Is there parking?

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Price and Bond - You should clearly state the weekly rental amount and the amount that will be needed for the bond. 

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Images - Photos are front and centre of your ad and give the tenant a glimpse of your property showing all it has to offer. Photos should be taken in natural light and the space should be clutter free and clean. 

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You don’t necessarily need professional images as phone camera technology has come a long way in the last 10 years. Remember to cast wide and take around 10 -15 photos, selecting the best one as the hero photo for your ad. 

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If you do wish to order professional photos, check out our partner SNAPPR and  book a photographer at a great rate.

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Create your listing - You now need to publish your ads. If you’re wondering where you should look to publish you’ll want maximum exposure on the best and most professional property sites such as  Realestate.com.au, Domain.com.au and Rent.com.au.

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You may find it quite expensive or that you are unable to publish directly onto those sites as they cater to real estate agents, and that is where RentBetter can help! We offer a one-off upfront fee for you to list your property ad on the sites until you have found a tenant. 

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4. Prepare Your Property

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When someone comes into your property for the first time and has to feel like they’d need to clean up, it won’t make the best impression and they won't feel like they're at home. That's why it's so important that when prospective renters come over for a inspection or viewing, you make sure things are not only neat and tidy but also clean.  

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If there are any issues, such as broken windows or a leaky roof, it's important that these problems are fixed before showing the property. Not only will this make your home more attractive to potential tenants, but it will also help you avoid costly repairs down the road.

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5. Conducting Inspections/Viewings

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When potential renters enquire about your listing you will need to set up inspection times so they can come and view the property in person. Inspections can either be open or private. 

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Open Inspections are usually held mid-week and on the weekend where you allocate a time period and advertise it on your listing for people to drop by as they see fit.

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Private inspections are when tenants directly contact you and arrange for a time to view the property themselves without any other tenants there. Due to life commitments, it can sometimes be hard to facilitate this so we find open inspections can yield the best results. 

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You should prepare answers to the most frequently asked questions before meeting with any potential tenants. Things like details of parking, your stance on pets, internet connection and nearby shops or other helpful neighbourhood tips are good info to have on hand. 

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See our quick reference guide for running an inspection here. 

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6. Selecting the Right Tenant

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Prospective tenants are going to want to submit applications so you should have details ready to go. Most modern renters will want to submit applications online vs filling one out on paper so you should be able to direct them on where to go to do this.

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On RentBetter the application link will always be included on your ad to make it easy for tenants to apply quickly. RentBetter partners with 2Apply for industry standard applications. 

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To work out if an applicant is suitable you should look closely at:

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• Their current employment status
• Their income
• References from employers and previous landlords

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You can also use the National Tenancy Database (NTD) through RentBetter to help verify your applicants. The NTD is the most extensive database of tenant information in Australia - it is the industry leading solution to help screen tenants.

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Your NTD report will cover:

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• Past Tenant History
• Identity Information
• Bankruptcy Information & Court Record
• Directorship Information

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Digital tenant checks are $25 per tenant or $18 if you’re a RentBetter customer. For more information click here. 

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Selling your property? 

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You can do that too on RentBetter! RentBetter is a platform for ALL property owners who want to cut out the middleman and maximise their return on investment by renting out or selling their property themselves.

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For a flat fee of $399 you can advertise your property for sale on Australia’s leading sites: RealEstate.com.au and Domain.com.au and your property will be advertised until sold. 

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You’ll also have access to navigate and respond to your enquiries, all in one place.

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DIY for the Win!

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Marketing your property yourself isn’t a problem if you know what you’re doing, you don’t need to be an estate agent to figure it out. It may require more of a time investment for you but if you’re looking maximise the returns and save thousands in agent commissions each year then we can assure you it’s worth it! 

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